Browse Forums Building A New House Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 21Apr 26, 2017 2:46 pm Hi - coming into this convo a bit late. I'm undertaking a KDR in the Eastern Suburbs at the moment. Using a mid size volume Vic builder who specializes in sloping blocks (I won't mention as they read this forum). The slab was laid about 3 weeks ago. Lots of piers too. The power pit times sound terrible. I am in a UE area and got the pit done in Sept last year. I was fortunate regarding timing, as the quote was done within about a week (after I submitted my diagram) and the pit was installed within the fortnight of paying the install fee. My fee was $4200 for the pit and additional 16 metres of cabling (the standard pit fee in Sept '16 was $3370 which includes something like 5 metres of cabling). Demo quotes vary significantly. I'm the kind of person who likes to research A LOT (including this forum), and get lots of quotes for all trades. I obtained 12 written demo quotes. The variance between quotes was around $10,000. Demolition isn't an exact science, and like all trades, they quote based on how busy they are at the time and whether they want the job. Some demo companies like to play games and quote high then tell you they can match a competitors price. Obviously get a demo quote which includes temp fencing, the demo permit, and the asbestos clearance cert. Apart from this, I would suggest going with the company with good communication skills and easy to talk to. I obtained the asset protection permit myself from Council to save paying the admin overhead through the tradies. You'll need this before demo works start. I assume you'll do the crossover swap and concreting after completion of the house? As I recall, for my Council, the crossover permits are only valid for 6 months, so you are better of getting the permit closer to house completion. Any other questions (or recommendations), feel free to ask - perhaps via PM for the recommendations. I can't answer the questions on renting however, as we bought our KDR as a vacant house and never lived in it. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 22Apr 26, 2017 4:37 pm Hi Barry157 Thanks for your response. All advice is welcome at this point. We're pretty lucky with our block, it's relatively flat. We will need some screws though. Sounds like you timed the power pit well. I've sent you a PM regarding Demo companies. We haven't decided who to go with yet but are planning to get the paperwork for this happening asap. We are planning to get our asset protection permit from our council ourselves as well, though at this point I'm not sure when as everything else with the council seems to take so long. groan. Don't want to leave it too late just in case. We are currently waiting for our crossover permit. It shouldn't have a problem but does seem to be taking a while. I can only assume it is being held up by the tree removal. Again waiting on the council. We haven't decided what to do about the cross over yet. We are getting differing advice. Put it in asap for easier site access and no don't put it in till finished because it might get damaged. The crossover permit from my council will be valid for 12 months. Thanks Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 23Apr 26, 2017 4:43 pm I'd also love any recommendations for independent building inspectors if anyone has any? Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 24Apr 26, 2017 6:39 pm Simonds are great that they'll go contract before you have completed the 2nd soil test, I have to wait until after. I have PM'ed you the details for the demo company that we used. They have been brilliant, and very helpful answering all my questions. Check insurance with demo companies as well, I ask one mob about their insurance and asked for a copy and that was the last I heard from them - guess there was no liability insurance. Personally - if your getting no response for a quote, I wouldn't be wasting anymore time with them, could be a nightmare later on but then that's just my experience with tradies. You should just like us - 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs, we do also have 15yo cat who after the move lives inside. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 25Apr 26, 2017 8:48 pm Rachael13 Simonds are great that they'll go contract before you have completed the 2nd soil test, I have to wait until after. I have PM'ed you the details for the demo company that we used. They have been brilliant, and very helpful answering all my questions. Check insurance with demo companies as well, I ask one mob about their insurance and asked for a copy and that was the last I heard from them - guess there was no liability insurance. Personally - if your getting no response for a quote, I wouldn't be wasting anymore time with them, could be a nightmare later on but then that's just my experience with tradies. You should just like us - 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs, we do also have 15yo cat who after the move lives inside. Thanks Rachael, Yeah Simonds will do contract before 2nd soil and survey but the site costs wont be fixed in the contract. I got the pm, thanks. I will give them a call. Yeah insurance is a must. So far the quotes we have they all state they have insurance but yes will make sure to get a copy. I was thinking the same. If I have to chance them just to get a quote I will probably have to chance them for everything else. Not worth the hassle. lol what are we thinking doing this with kids and pets! We must be insane, lol. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 26May 04, 2017 11:10 am Latest update - Our Tender appointment needed to be rescheduled due to someone not being available so that is now next week. Turned out to be a good thing because I would have been too unwell to take it all in. We now have our approved permit for our new / moved crossover. We're still not sure when to actually get the crossover done. And we have picked the demo company we want to use. Now if only the council would finish removing the tree out the front.......... Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 27May 11, 2017 2:09 pm Time seems to be going so fast. Wish we could speed the progress up at the same time. We had our Gallery Tour the other week and that was interesting and then we had our Tender appt this week. A couple of things needed to be tweaked otherwise all good. We have also been able to bring our Gallery and Contract appts up a bit so that is good. We've signed with the Demo company so that they can go ahead and organise the demo permit. Still waiting on the council to finish removing the tree stump out the front. Need that done and finished so that we can go ahead and apply for a Asset Protection Permit from the Council. I'm current on hold with the power company enquiring about our power pit quote application and so far it's not sounding good. He can't find the application. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 28May 12, 2017 9:18 pm We're crazy to do this with kids and animals but wouldn't have it any other way. Time does fly and progress goes at a snails pace. Hang in there. Did you get the crossover approved and is the tree finally all gone? Hope that your power pit quote application turned up. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 29May 13, 2017 10:04 am Rachael13 We're crazy to do this with kids and animals but wouldn't have it any other way. Time does fly and progress goes at a snails pace. Hang in there. Did you get the crossover approved and is the tree finally all gone? Hope that your power pit quote application turned up. We've started seriously looking for a rental property now. That's daunting. Hopefully we can find somewhere suitable quickly. Yes crossover permit was approved, hooray. And no, the tree stump is still there. Fingers crossed it is done this following week. We need it gone so that we can take photo's of the curb, footpath etc and apply for an Asset Protection Permit ready fo the demolition. I phoned the power company the other day and it wasn't promising. At first he couldn't find our application. After being on hold for a while he came back and said he's put urgent on the application. I'm not holding my breath though, lol How's your progress going? I'm off to check out your link now. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 30May 22, 2017 12:16 pm Update - So good news and not so good news, We applied for a power pit a month ago. On Friday we received an email saying our application had been rejected due to the location. We are now waiting for the house plans to be altered to move the meter box so that the pit can go on the other side of our block. This morning the tree stump was finally removed. yay!!! Now we can apply for an asset protection permit. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 31May 22, 2017 5:46 pm Bri1234 Update - So good news and not so good news, We applied for a power pit a month ago. On Friday we received an email saying our application had been rejected due to the location. We are now waiting for the house plans to be altered to move the meter box so that the pit can go on the other side of our block. This morning the tree stump was finally removed. yay!!! Now we can apply for an asset protection permit. Did they just flat out reject it? Ausnet called me and said they can put it where we want it and it will cost $6000 or if I am happy to put it the other side it will only cost $4800, for the difference I said put it on the side they preferred. Doesn't matter to me which side it's on. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 32May 22, 2017 7:13 pm nikil Did they just flat out reject it? Ausnet called me and said they can put it where we want it and it will cost $6000 or if I am happy to put it the other side it will only cost $4800, for the difference I said put it on the side they preferred. Doesn't matter to me which side it's on. Hi Nikil Yes flat out rejected. A standard email with the rejection reason being location. We're on a corner and applied to have the pit on the corner as there is a main power pole there. Unfortunately United Energy wants it to be between us and a neighbour, on the other side of the house. So we have to change the meter box to the other side of the house on the plans and apply for the pit again. Unfortunately from what I understand our reapplication will go back to the bottom of the pile. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 33May 27, 2017 4:06 pm Oh what a shame on the pit location being knocked back. Can you talk to someone at United Engery and see if they can just review the new location? Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 34May 27, 2017 4:37 pm Rachael13 Oh what a shame on the pit location being knocked back. Can you talk to someone at United Engery and see if they can just review the new location? Unfortunately they didn't give us any options, pit just needs to be between 2 blocks rather than on our corner. Hopefully we'll have the new house plans this week with the meter box moved so that we can reapply for the pit. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 35Jun 17, 2017 1:57 pm We had our gallery appt this week. Wow that was a full on day, lol. But exciting. Now we need to finalise some decisions in time for contract in just over a week. Still no news on the power pit reapplication. Looking for a rental place. Starting to panic a bit about that. Would love any advice. We really only want a lease for 6-9 months but everywhere seems to want us to sign for 12 months. And still need to get this asset protection permit application started. Feel like I'm juggling everything at the moment. Ok, If I can figure out how to upload pics again I'll add some info about our colour choices. Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 36Jun 17, 2017 2:44 pm We upgraded our bricks to Homestead Tan [url=[url=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/BriFlinders/media/Mobile%20Uploads/AF41A98D-25E7-48FF-9D4C-411E0857CF51_zps138dijqx.png.html]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/AF41A98D-25E7-48FF-9D4C-411E0857CF51_zps138dijqx.png[/url]]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/AF41A98D-25E7-48FF-9D4C-411E0857CF51_zps138dijqx.png[/url] Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 37Jun 17, 2017 2:49 pm Our external colours - Surfmist for our windows, doors and the main part of the gable Wallaby for the garage door, fascia, barge and some cladding on the front Monument for the Gutters, Barge capping, downpipes and meterbox The roof is Barramundi. Sorry no pic for that but it's a dark grey. [url=[url=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/BriFlinders/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D31AD695-FCB0-4259-BC61-0F351F71E12C_zpsps6y8bau.jpg.html]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/D31AD695-FCB0-4259-BC61-0F351F71E12C_zpsps6y8bau.jpg[/url]]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/D31AD695-FCB0-4259-BC61-0F351F71E12C_zpsps6y8bau.jpg[/url] Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 38Jun 17, 2017 2:55 pm Kitchen Alpine Stone Tile (upgraded). This tile is for all the main living areas Kitchen benchtops - Pewter laminex Kickboards - Deep Arthracite Benchtop - Caesarstone Raven (upgraded) and the splashback is mirror [url=[url=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/BriFlinders/media/Mobile%20Uploads/0539299F-B882-4376-A421-FC8154C44904_zps4u2dtn6h.jpg.html]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/0539299F-B882-4376-A421-FC8154C44904_zps4u2dtn6h.jpg[/url]]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/0539299F-B882-4376-A421-FC8154C44904_zps4u2dtn6h.jpg[/url] Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 39Jun 17, 2017 2:58 pm Laundry is the same as the kitchen except with Grey Kashmir Formica The walls throughout the house are Greyology 4 Skirts, doorframes etc are Greyology 1 [url=[url=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/BriFlinders/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D83D4290-9FA5-4A20-9989-0241C3E0714C_zpsbqd0vupi.jpg.html]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/D83D4290-9FA5-4A20-9989-0241C3E0714C_zpsbqd0vupi.jpg[/url]]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/D83D4290-9FA5-4A20-9989-0241C3E0714C_zpsbqd0vupi.jpg[/url] Re: KDR - SE Melb - Simonds Flinders 40Jun 17, 2017 3:02 pm Bathroom and Ensuite Simplicity Nero (Standard range) for floors, showers, bath hob etc Laminex Pewter Cabinetry Deep Anthracite Formica shadow line White Valencia Laminex bench tops. [url=[url=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/BriFlinders/media/Mobile%20Uploads/23348BB8-8723-4B6F-A3E6-A6E91FBA47C7_zpsn9relq3x.jpg.html]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/23348BB8-8723-4B6F-A3E6-A6E91FBA47C7_zpsn9relq3x.jpg[/url]]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/BriFlinders/Mobile%20Uploads/23348BB8-8723-4B6F-A3E6-A6E91FBA47C7_zpsn9relq3x.jpg[/url] We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37156 The biggest challenge will be if you take out a loan and then run out of money - you'll have an incomplete security and lenders do not like this so you can get stuck.… 2 19114 Hi, I am looking into doing a KDR in Melbourne and am contemplating using Kialla Homes. I am looking for feedback on them from others who have built with them. 0 13449 |